Troubleshooting Neon Lights: Common Issues and Solutions

Everyone who sees a neon sign feels comforted and nostalgic because of its warm, familiar brightness. Picture a neon sign glowing brightly, illuminating the night with its beautiful colors. Neon signs can be used as more than just light decorations; they can illuminate a storefront, spruce up a bar, or create a retro atmosphere in your house. 

Nevertheless, proper maintenance is critical to prolonging its lifespan. Do you know how to keep your neon lights safe? What neon light maintenance tips have you applied? In this article, we will explore some common issues and solutions to your neon light. Furthermore, you will learn common maintenance tips to prolong your neon light.

Troubleshooting Neon Lights

Learning how to diagnose and correctly identify typical problems can keep your neon sign in good operating condition for several decades to come. Custom neon signs are often easy to install and maintain, but occasionally, like any electrical device, it could have a small issue. 

These issues are minor and simple to resolve, provided that the underlying cause can be identified, and appropriate safety measures are taken. Dim neon signs, flashing, or completely dark usually indicate electrical problems at hand. You need to become acquainted with your neon sign's internal wiring before you can begin troubleshooting it. You can then focus even more on resolving the specific problem at hand.

Flickering Lights

It’s common to see your neon lights flickering. In most cases, it is due to insufficient power or poor connection to the power source. Another reason you might experience flickering neon lights is because of broken or frayed wires. The best approach to troubleshooting a flickering neon light is to deal with the connection between the neon sign and the transformer. 

You should only undergo this repair if you have the necessary tools. Use a multimeter tool to check the voltage. Nevertheless, ensure the neon sign is not connected to a power source. Once you've completed the check, you can reconnect the power source to see if the flickering continues. If the lights continue to flicker after the connection has been reestablished, you may need to utilize a step-up transformer to ensure a high enough voltage is provided to the sign.

Dimmed lights

Another issue your neon light may exhibit is the light getting dimmer. The likely culprit is a leak within the glass tube. Furthermore, if there is a hole or crack within the tube, the neon gas will leak. Once the air fills the tube, it becomes hard to produce the needed ions to create the colorful, bright light it ought to display. In this situation, it's best to replace the neon light, as repairing it yourself might be difficult. 

Neon lights refuse to come up

A neon sign that completely fails to illuminate could be the worst-case situation. This is frequently the result of internal electrical issues, such as a malfunctioning tubing portion inside the sign or broken or shorted wire. 

Damaged or shorted wires cannot transfer voltage from the power source to the sign. Furthermore, a defective tubing part will cut off the power transmission throughout the sign. To get the sign working again, check and repair any damaged wires.

Buzzing Sound or noise

After using your neon light for years, it might start generating some sound or noise. Interestingly, it doesn't mean your sign won't work as properly as it should. Nevertheless, it indicates that you should call a professional to perform routine maintenance. In most cases, the buzzing sound is from the transformer.

Neon Light Maintenance Tips

Using neon signs is one unique method to advertise your company or give your interior design a little retro flair. However, routine maintenance is essential to maintaining your neon sign's attractive appearance and functionality. The following are essentials for neon sign maintenance tips that each owner must be aware of:

Cleaning Dust and Dirt

With prolonged usage, the neon light might accumulate a lot of dust and dirt, thereby reducing its brightness. To avoid such a situation, you should endeavor to clean regularly. You don't need any expensive products or items to perform this simple task. Take a soft brush or cloth to gently remove any dust or dirt from the light. Nevertheless, don't use any abrasive cleaner or harsh chemicals because they will damage the neon tube. 

Replace bad transformer

Another important neon light maintenance tip to adhere to is to replace any bad transformer. These transformers are the key components of neon light. With frequent usage, the lifespan tends to drop, resulting in the light not lighting up properly. Furthermore, it can also lead to flickering. Once you notice any of the two issues mentioned beforehand, consider replacing the transformer if you don't want further damage to your light.

Look at the neon tubes

Occasionally, neon tubes may fail or sustain damage, resulting in a faint or non-existent light display on the sign. To prevent additional damage, it's critical to have any tubes that show signs of wear and tear replaced as soon as possible. A qualified neon sign repair service can also replace any broken tubes to keep your neon sign operating properly.

Keep away from harsh weather

Among the most important neon light maintenance tips to implement is to keep the light from harsh weather. Even though neon signs are made to endure harsh conditions, severe weather can nonetheless destroy them. Keeping your sign covered during storms and other extreme weather conditions is crucial to shielding it from the elements. The sign can also be coated with a protective layer to help shield it from UV radiation and other environmental elements.

Monitor the Wiring 

An important aspect of your neon sign's operation is the wiring. After usage, the wiring connections can become loose, leading to the sign flickering, or not coming up. Before calling a professional, check the wiring unit is secure and tight. Nevertheless, if you notice something different, consult a professional to resolve the issue.

Hire Professionals 

You should allow the professionals to handle your neon signs issues. While troubleshooting neon lights is a good option, it can lead to other issues that damage the complete system. To preserve the neon tubes and the sign's beauty, professionals possess the skill and know-how necessary for installation or replacement.

A professional expert can detect minor problems before they develop into something bigger. A routine check can save you more than you can imagine. Frequent inspections may distinguish between a simple fix and a more involved neon sign restoration.

Can you repair a damaged Neon Sign?

Your neon sign might not be fixed for several reasons. If it was not constructed with high-quality parts, replacing the neon tube is a simpler solution than purchasing a new sign. 

Furthermore, replacing the neon tubes in your signs is a smart move because fixing malfunctioning neon signs and customizing their components to suit your needs can occasionally be time-consuming and expensive. 

It's also important to consider the age of the sign and the materials used to make the gas tube and glass. Older and damaged neon signs pose a risk because they could contain potentially harmful materials like lead and mercury. Because gas tubes are dangerous, some repair companies might not accept broken ones.

Summary

Neon signs are a distinctive and eye-catching marketing tool that you can use to advertise your company or give your interior design a little something extra. Frequent maintenance is essential to maintaining the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your neon sign. You can maintain your sign, clean it, fix frequent problems, and keep it safe from harm by using the neon light maintenance tips. Recall that you can preserve the brightness of your neon sign for many years by performing routine inspections and timely repairs.